Then I attached burlap over the springs with my trusty staple gun and compressor.....

I stapled around the outside of the frame, and then folded the burlap over and stapled it down again.....

Then I pulled out my fox edge.

It comes in different sizes.

It's burlap folded over cording.

It's used to soften the edge of the wood frame, sos your tender thighs don't get bruised by the chair.....

I stapled it to all four edges.

Line it up, so the outside edge of the fox edge just sticks a little beyond the frame.

Now it was time to create a back for the chair.

I pulled out my jute webbing......

And I got my trusty web stretcher.....

And started building up the back.

Starting in the middle, I placed strips of webbing, and stretched them tight with the stretcher.

Then I stapled the ends back over.

Then I wove the horizontal strips across the back stapling them the same way.

This needs to be nice and taut.

Then it was time to cut the foam for the seat.

I used 2" medium density foam.

Cut it to fit around the arms.....

To cut foam, I used an electric meat knife that I just bought from Bed Bath and Beyond.

I bought the cheapest one they had.

Attach the foam to the burlap with spray adhesive.....

Then get the dacron out.....

The dacron is wrapped around the foam tightly, and creates a nice seat.

Then stop what you're doing,,,,,.....,,,,,

and realize you haven't put the burlap on the inside back of the chair yet.

And you're supposed to do that before you do the seat.

OOPS!!!!!

Fold the burlap over at the edges and tack down with staples.

THEN PUT THE DACRON ON!!!!!

I just kept making mistakes!!!!!

At this juncture, I had stapled the dacron to the bottom of the frame.

DON'T DO THAT!!!!!

So then I had to pull all those staples out and staple it to the side edge of the frame....

I just had a little brain fart.

That is happening to me more and more lately.

Jeesh.......

Because I was using antique French grain sack fabric, from an antique French grain sack, that is antique, and from France, and used to hold grain....

the fabric wasn't wide enough to cover the seat or inside back of the chair, so I added some plain linen fabric that I bought from the same vendor who sold me the grain sacks. The linen is also old and was from an unused bolt of the fabric the farmers used to make the sacks....in France.....that held grain!!!!!

Then I laid out the fabric so that the stripe was centered.....

and tacked the fabric to the center front, center back, and sides.....

to hold it in place while I worked on the chair.

Then I started in the center of the front and worked my way to the corners, smoothing and pulling the fabric taut.

Normally, I would start in the back, but because it was difficult to work in the front because of the decorative stretcher, I started in the front.

I cut out a slit for the arms and folded under the fabric in a pleat.

I'm not showing you how to do this because it's hard and you can see a tutorial here by this really good teacher.....

He shows you everything.

Problem is.....

Each chair is different, so you have to improvise.....

tuck in the fabric around the front leg and then cut the fabric around the back leg.....

Then staple to the bottom of the frame in the back, pulling it so that it is smooth and tight, but not so tight that there is no play in the foam and springs.

Then, starting in the middle of each side, staple the sides, smoothing the fabric and pulling it outward as you go.

Then stand back, and tell yourself what a trooper you are!!!!!

I forgot to shoot this, but I put a couple of straps of webbing over the outside back, then covered it with burlap.

This way someone won't cave in the back if they push into it.

Then I trimmed the burlap.

Now it's time to work on the inside back.

I traced the curve of the chair top, cut the paper, and lay it on the foam and traced the curve on the foam.

I used 2" soft foam for the back.

I cut the foam with my upholster shears.

I cut the curve and around the arms.

For the curve, I cut 1/2 in from the finished edge so I would have room for the tape and nail head trim.

Then I covered the inside back with dacron.

Fold the dacron over and lay the scissor's point centered with the arm, that's how you know where to make your cut.

Stop around 1/2" or so from the arm and make a little Y cut, then you can fold the dacron down around the arm.

Tuck the dacron through to the back and tack it down with staples.

Then trim it.

Then I started pulling it up and stapling it along the top, staying 1/2" away from the finished part of the frame with the carvings.

Then I stapled the sides onto the back.

Then I trimmed all the decron close to the staples.

lay the fabric so it's lined up, then pin in place.....

staple along the bottom onto the back of the frame.

Pull the fabric up, smooth and tighten, and staple in place.

Cut around the arms.....

CAREFULLY!!!!!

(This is really nerve wracking!!!!!)

Stand back and jump up and down.....

Cut along the fabric line with a razor blade.

I tucked in the corner at the top.....

I am not very good at nailing in nail head trim, so I started each hole with my regulator.

A regulator is a very important upholstery tool. It's used to tuck in fabric and adjust pleats and all kinds of neat stuff.

It looks like a big needle.

That white plastic thingy is a nail head spacer, it helps make sure that the nails have been evenly placed.

I made the tape out of the same fabric as the chairs.

At this point, I was very please with myself!!!!!

But I still had to apply the nails to the legs and arms.......

OY, OY, OY!!!!!

So I added the nail head trim to the legs and arms.

Now it was time for the outside back.

I'm not going to lie.

It nearly did me in.

I'm not going to show everything, because the YouTube tutorial is so much better than my pathetic attempts.

Suffice it to say.....

There was lots of blood and band-aids involved!!!!!

But I will show part of it.....

First I made welting.

I got the chair up on the work table, ready for my attack.....

I started stapling the welting around the outside of the back.

I ran my finger along the side as I stapled, to hold the welt in place.

The center of the welt cord should line up with the edge of the chair frame.

When I brought the two end pieces together, I cut back the fabric on one end and cut back the cord on the other end,

96 comments:

Love the finish on this chair and the antique French grain sack fabric...that is antique...from France...and used to hold grain! I upholstered a chair years ago. It's more difficult than it looks, and I don't think I would do it again. Beautiful job!

This chair is really a work of art Betsy. It is so comfortable to sit in, and it looks so handsome!! And you did it yourself~!! AFter looking at this post I think it should be a million dollar chair!!! Hey, I also think you should put this post on your sidebar as a Tutorial on upholstery so we can find it easily~you will get thousands of hits. PS I think I have a buyer for your chair...so yes you will be a professional upholsterer!!!

That was freakin awesome! I learned a ton about upholstery by reading this... and i also learned that i'm never going to do that! I can't believe how great the chair looks, you did an amazing excellent job, and that 8 way hand knotting/tying you did is epic! I also love your antique grain sacks from france, that are actually antique, and held grain, and came from France!

This chair is a work of art, Betsy! How beautiful it is finished... love the fabric and color!Thanks so much for your detailed tutorial. I am refinishing 6 dining room chairs and a bedroom chair. This was such a huge help!!!Fabulous post!

Beautiful, amazing, and I'm exhausted just looking at your pictures. I was going to pin it, but who am I kidding? Never in a million years could I do something this professional looking. I may pin it anyway to show someone else how I want it done!

Holy Grain Sack, Betsey! What a great job you have done. I've taken a lot of upholstery classes, but I never got a regulator. I'm going to have to chase down one right away. I hope you are charging at least $600 for this. Ann

Oh my .... I saw this on Amy's blog first and now i had the pleasure of seeing you upholster it....What an amazing job you did...and a great tutorial...Magnificent chair..I am sure by now the chair has already sold!!!

Betsey, you crack me up! You da bomb after doing that chair. I am more than impressed with your skills. I would have thrown in the towel (grain sack) at about step 3. I hope you charged mega bucks for that. It looked fabulous and you deserve every penny you get! BTW I have had a picture of one of your projects in my files for years, 15 years at least. I have learned from your blog that it was the bedroom in your cabin. Always loved the cozy feel of that charming room! You are very talented and so REAL!

Wow, great tutorial. I saw it on Amy's blog first. I was really impressed with the colors on the wood showing. When you were painting the chair, I thought, 'what the heck, why all the different layers of colors'? Your attention to detail is amazing.

Such a brilliant step by step tutorial!I have upholstered chairs in the past and it really is a lot of work but look at your after picture,so worth it,It looks fabulous,I think Amy is going to have you working over time now,She may even be out buying dining tables with six chairs,can you imagine? ;) x

Betsy!! Thank you for the brilliant tutorial! I am inspired to tackle a job such as this! Kudos to you for your perseverance and my hat is certainly off to you for your gorgeous design sensibility. Detail after thoughtful detail really pays off. Exceptional job!

Betsy!! Thank you for the brilliant tutorial! I am inspired to tackle a job such as this! Kudos to you for your perseverance and my hat is certainly off to you for your gorgeous design sensibility. Detail after thoughtful detail really pays off. Exceptional job!

Wow. Seriously amazing job. And thanks for the tute cuz i just bought a chair that is sad, but gorgeous in spirit, and only $15, so I will be using your words to inspire and teach me as I go on my own chair journey.

I cannot imagine doing all that work! You really ARE the bomb! Your tutorial is fantastic! Someday when I've got days and days of energy on hand, I'll attempt this. In the meantime, do you take upholstering orders? {wink}

Betsy - I love/hate you. I have the same kind of chair. I bought it at Goodwill. I thought it was a great deal for $5. I would upholster it. I have never upholstered anything. But, my ego told me I could. I finished it, it's quite nice. Then I read your blog last night. And all I kept saying to myself was "oh, I didn't do that", "fox edge - is she making this up?", " I was supposed to glue it?". I looked at my chair and I wanted to put a photo of you on it and then throw my cell phone at you. WHY did you not post this blog BEFORE I did my chair. Why, you cruel cruel (very clever) woman. Now I look at my work, and think what a load of tosh. Yes, thanks Betsy. Thanks so much!!

I'm in awe, truly. It looks magnificent. I can't believe you did that on your own, and managed to take pix along the way! I'm so impressed with your talent and creativity. I have some chairs that need reupholstering...bottoms only...and you inspired me to give it a try.

Fabulous tutorial, and just a lovely chair... I wouldn't have been able to sell it after all that work!!! Good for you for being able to cut it loose! I hope you get mucho buckaroonies for it! Dandelion House Deb

Thank you for this A+ tute! And for the reference to another's tute. I have have 3 chairs that have been waiting forever. And this will be good for my headboard project. So glad I joined this party! di @ musings. http://subjectschosenatrandom.blogspot.com/http://subjectschosenatrandom.blogspot.com/

I have a wing chair in dire need of reupholstering (a hand me down from my parents) and have no idea how to start. This tutorial is amazing in the details, the best one I've seen so far! I will be checking out the youtube tut for more. Thank you so much for sharing...and for the chuckles along the way! Love this post.Saw you linking At The Picket Fence and I'm now following you.Debbie :)

This is so pretty and you did such a good job! Thanks for the thorough explanation of each step and lots of pic, too.....I have a chair that I'm going to redo (someday!) but have been too afraid to go any further than taking all the old stuff off......you've given me the excitement to maybe give it a try!

Wow! I read through this carefully, and I cannot believe all the work that went into it. I had glanced at it before, but reading it step by step, I am awed. You really did a super job on this chair, Betsy, and I think you need to charge through the ying yang for it. I love the grainsacks. MJ is one of my good friend's initials. Thanks for sharing.

Your chair is absolutely gorgeous! I took anupholstery class and your tutorial is more helpful than the class I took. Thank you. I'm in the process of taking the staples out of two chairs that I am reupholstering. I had thempreviously reupholstering and guess what I foundout...the previous reupholster just put fabric over the other fabric. Unbelievable. One reason to do it yourself, then you know what youhave! Thanks, Sandra

Thanks for the great tutorial. I can't say you made it look simple -- but you did give me a tad more confidence to try it myself! The chair turned out beautifully. Now I have to follow you to see what you're going to come up with next!

Ok so I started off reading this post thinking - OH GREAT - finally - I can learn how to do this the RIGHT away - and about half way through I realized it ain't happening lol.What an incredible job you did - absolutely gorgeous!!!

When I saw the before I wondered what possessed you. The finished product is just wonderful. You are a genius. Have you ever heard of the saying making a silk purse out of a sow's ear? This must be what they meant.

Thank you so much for posing this tutorial! I have a chair almost identical except for the top decorative piece. The springs keeping coming undone and I was on the very of just cutting them out and making a seat with a board and cushion. Now I know how to fix it! I'm a new follower and am off to look around your fabulous blog!

Wow Betsy, your chair turned out so beautiful! Great instructions and I love all your tools too! I am in the middle of upholstering a chair and I think I must have left out a few steps! The French Hens are your newest followers.

The chair is beautiful. Thank you for convincing me I will PAY someone to do mine. The time involved alone is worth paying this cool hippy dude that does great work here in town. Thanks for the inspiration.

Oh the work involved. This is just plain stunning. Wow. I have done some chairs like this and it's a tremendous amount of work and every time I finish one, I say never will I do that again...only to do another and another! I adore yours and don't think I could sell it! Except for a million dollars!

Betsy! Betsy! Well done! You've quite impressed me! I am going to check out those videos and tutorials. I have a couple of chairs that can be candidates for this - I saw some of this fabric at the fair----now wishing I'd picked some up! The lady said it was her last time at the fair - she normally goes to fabric trade shows.I am going to 'Pin' this so I can remember to come back to this! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,Kathy

You are a rock star!! Wow!! What you didn't share it at Cowgirl Up? Are you serious? This is amazing. I'm saving these awesome intsructions for future use, or better yet, maybe I'll just send you all of my furniture. Please let me know if you link it to Cowgirl Up.

You have done a amazing job. I have a chair I have been wanted to recover but a little scared. After seeing this tutorial with brilliant step by step photos I am going to give it a go. I love that you put your oops moments in. I reminded me that it's ok to have them.it how we learn. Thanks

Betsy, great job! I saw it over at Amy's blog. It looks great in the shop. You really transformed this one! I love your step by step b/c I've seen so many chairs that look like the before and thought they were way passed help. Thank you so much for this inspiration.

Wow! This is GORGEOUS! I love it and love the step by step guide. I've wanted to attempt a reupholstery on one of my chairs and I've been terrified to try. Not sure if your post made me less terrified but at least I know where to go for reference when I attempt it. It looks daunting!

Oh my you should be proud of yourself, and from what I can see you sure are a professional upholsterer. It is beautiful, and love the great tutorial that I have pinned for future use. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!

WOW! You have talent! Thanks for sharing on Cowgirl Up this week- such a treat to see such a great transformation. I am sharing your project tonight on my Facebook page- so grab a button from the blog for 'being featured'! :) Samantha @ Crafty Texas Girlshttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Crafty-Texas-Girls/140299076008437

I'm not sure how I happened across your blog... maybe Miss Mustardseed's furniture friday (?). I am so glad that I did. I love the chair, the detailed instructions, your writing. Your writing style is awesome. I LOL :D So glad to have found your site!

I agree. This and how you talked about HAND EMBROIDERING those chairs for your BFF are some of my favorites of your blog in 2012. Thank you so much for linking these up with us. Sincerely look forward to your regular linky party contributions in the new year! :: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ::

Wow excellent work. I love this tutorial you have shared a splendid detailed tutorial. Your blog is very informative and marvelous. I like it very much and I am saving these awesome instructions for future use. These instructions are very helpful for making a bedroom chairs.

Your chair is so beautiful. You are indeed an accomplished upholsterer an your tutorial is the best I have ever seen. It brought me back to the upholstery classes I took a few years back. What a great refresher. Job well done and thanks so much for writing such a detailed post. Pinning this for future reference.

Probably the best and clearest tutorial I have ever found on the net. I live in France and have a less complicated chair to do, but similar shell design at the top. And since I live in France I will have no trouble finding grain sacks and old linen .....chezbon

Wonderful job, very helpful with a project I am doing, thanks! A question though in general, re: old furniture: we all love (or at least appreciate) really old antique furniture, yet what are we leaving for future generations in terms of "antiques"? I've seen really nice furniture from circa 1900 - 1940 for example, with carving and nice veneer or wood, painted and upholstered beyond recognition. These alterations are often made "respectable" with the term, "shabby chic". Slap on some white paint, attach the chair or whatever with a blowtorch, tie raffia around the legs, and, "ta da!" a work of art. Not. Yes, I know, we all have different tastes, but my comment concerns the preservation of old furniture for future generations to enjoy. If we find a chair or table that's really badly damaged, then yes, go for it, but please: don't take your grandmothers handsome, circa 1920 Jacobean dining set and strip it, paint it, and staple faux tiger fur onto the chair seats, though seat coverings can be reversed of course. Old furniture connects us to our collective past. Keeping it "as is", caring for it, and not changing it for some trendy, soon to be old "look", keeps that connection in part alive.

Betsy you have shared superb post. You have done nice job. You've quite impressed me! Your every post is sound lovely. I have a couple of chairs that can be candidates for this - I saw some of this fabric at the fair. Now wishing I'd picked some up! The lady said it was her last time at the fair - she normally goes to fabric trade shows. A hat off for you. Keep sharing useful post.

Good heavens. I just came across this in the process of looking for a tutorial on how to build a chair frame. What an outcome! I am so impressed and will save this for the time (if ever) I have time to try this. Don't know if this is your first attempt at such a project. If it is, I'm even MORE impressed, and it will get easier the next time around. THIS I know from experience of trying several things...but I'm sure you know that. Now you can sit back and wait for someone to ask "what's the least you'll take for this..." having no idea (or perhaps knowing and not caring) about the time & energy that went into a very high quality piece. 8 way hand tied for goodness sake. Man, I'm impressed....but I already said that, huh. Thanks for such an informative post!

We found a french bed (with the curved foot board) at a flea market- loved the bed but it needed re -upholstering, I found someone to do it for us which cost £350 in the end!.. I wish I would have read this article first as, I could of done it myself, had a good project, learnt how to re-upholster and saved myself a lot of money. - really good article, thank you.

I love your chair and am using it as inspiration as the price tab keeps mounting on buying supplies! I am wondering how long it took you to complete this (I am sorry if you said somewhere and I missed it)? Also, did you do anymore chairs after this one?

Betsy Speert!! Years ago I remember tearing out pages from a magazine of a darling cabin (I think) that you designed - it had a bed with carved bears on top of the bed posts :)I just bought two antique french chairs and started to reupholster - have spent the last two nights taking (ripping) off the old fabric and pulling out staples with a steak knife and a set of mini pliers, yes I stabbed my thumb thankfully no stitches though I bled on my new linen fabric :( Thank you for this post so happy I found you!!

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I've been a designer for longer than some of you have been alive. I have now started a new page of my career, closing my firm and designing furniture, as well as writing decorating books. Some of you may be familiar with my work over the years by seeing me in magazines. I tend to think that I'm funny, so please read my postings with a grain of salt thrown in for flavor. My spelling is atrocious, so I am refusing any responsibility for spell check right here and now. I hope anyone reading this will enjoy the pictures, info and humor.